Buffalo Grove's Hartstein weighs Stone replacement, own future

Elliott Hartstein loves being Buffalo Grove village president. That much is clear, even if the last 18 months have been rough and the limelight has not necessarily been kind to him of late.

But he also has made it clear he is no hurry to announce whether he will seek re-election in April.

“I honestly have not made a decision,” Hartstein said this week. “I know (the deadline to file for candidacy) is rapidly approaching. But you have got to put it in perspective.

“I haven't even pulled petitions yet,” he added. “I can (get the required signatures) in a day. Or a weekend.”

Filing for Buffalo Grove village president and most other offices up for election April 5 will be held Dec. 13-20.

Hartstein's remarks come the same week village trustees issued him a formal reprimand for his mocking parody of outgoing Trustee Lisa Stone on the night voters recalled her from office.

Whether to run for a fourth term as village president isn't the only decision Hartstein needs to make. There is the matter of replacing Stone, which will be done with Hartstein's appointment and the village board's approval.

He said it is his goal to select someone who has no intention of running for election next year, but understands the operation of the village and has been involved with the village in some way, like on a commission.

“My feeling is that it's really important to take politics and the political component out of this particular process,” Hartstein said. “It's an appointment for a relatively short period of time. Therefore I think it's important to draw upon people that are respected and have experience within the community.

“Then the people of Buffalo Grove will decide who will fill that seat for two years,” he added. “That's what elections are all about.”

Hartstein said he has had private conversations with current village board members and all seem to agree with his philosophy in choosing their new colleague.

“It would be my goal to make an appointment as early as next month, not wait 60 days,” he said.

In the meantime Hartstein said he plans to stay in constant and prolific contact with his constituents.

“I'm committed to knowing what's on people's minds. I'm going to do the same thing, whether I'm running or not,” he said. “I love what I do.”